[b][i]11:30pm, Last Seed 21
Dibella's House of Common Pleasures[/i][/b]

[sup]With [@GCold][/sup]

[hr]

The evening was well underway now, and having let time enough time pass - Relyssa assumed that Gustav had been clued into the strangers' plans. She’d spent that time soothing herself, a specialist blend of herbs brewed and steeped in hot water to calm her frayed nerves. It wasn’t often that she was confronted with such loud reminders of the past out of the blue. Windhelm, specifically. It was the only chink in her otherwise pristine, and impregnable armour. 

If Gustav was any bit the man she thought him to be, she knew he would be as restless as she was over this mysterious mission. A dragonhide shield as a down payment? The item in question had to be of extreme value… It was something that the Breton simply couldn’t ignore. 

Set aside in her room was a selection of cakes; one in particular a simple sliced loaf pricked with lavender and tea leaf. Sophisticated, did Gustav have a sweet tooth? Something comforting and homely had to lift his spirits after having trekked his way into Wayrest via the sewer... A smirk played upon her lips as she plated it up, covering it with a silken handkerchief before making her way to his room, with a gentle knock, she waited in the hallway for the mysterious Nord.

The mysterious Nord, on the other hand, had finally dried out his boots. Discussing business with Finch, while barefooted, had been embarrassing to say the least. The smell of footwear drenched in sewer water was pervading through the premium suite. It's probably why Finch never went in further than the doorway. So Gustav opened the windows, put his boots near them, and sprayed the room with rose-flavored fragrances. Satisfied, he put on a pair of slippers from the closest; they were too small for his feet.

Then came the knocking on his door. Gustav was tempted to tell his visitor to go away, but like any good businessman, he couldn't turn away his own curiosity.

"Relyssa?" Gustav opened the door. His eyes traveled to the covered plate in her hands. "Come in."

He closed the door behind them and gestured to the tea table. There was only one sofa behind it, so Gustav sat on one end and waited for Relyssa to sit on the other. While she set herself down, Gustav realized the dragon hide shield was occupying the tea table. He set it aside, leaning it against the side of the table.

"I trust you brought a delicious midnight late snack? It's not healthy to sleep on an empty stomach, is it?" Gustav joked, not aware of what was under the handkerchief. 

“I did indeed bring you something to eat,” she answered -- following his movements closely with curious eyes as she took her seat. On any other day, the smell would have been too much, but all of a sudden it simply felt par for the course of a Wayrest brothel. She chose to say nothing about it, just a simple sneer that soon faded as she peeled back the silk to reveal the cake. “Sugar will keep your energy up, I presume your way in was… [i]Less than easy.[/i]”

"Oh wow, by Kyne, thank you!" Gustav laughed; it was genuine. He retrieved a fork from a nearby dining set and dug it right away. "Delicious; a nice change of pace from the travel rations."

"And, yes, we encountered an obstacle." Gustav wiped his mouth with a napkin. "A large, scaly obstacle. Nothing we can't handle."

The shield played at the back of her mind, but now that the shock of it had passed, it didn’t bother her half as much. It was just what it was, an item that was of no interest to her. “I take it you met the stranger too, then?”

"Ah yes, the Imperial calling himself 'Finch'." Gustav nodded. "He said he talked to you as well, and before that, a lord in the room next to yours."

A cold wind blew in from the open window; Gustav shivered. He got up to close it. On the way back, he brought a jug of water and two cups. It was a bit late for alcohol, he figured, and Relyssa would be unlikely to drink any alcohol he offered, since he gave her medical ethanol last time. "He gave this shield as a down payment, and pages from a journal. You may want to read them; very strange." Gustav put said journal pages on the table. "So, let me get this straight; we're working for this 'Finch', who's working for someone incredibly powerful and rich, and the goal is to retrieve an artifact and kill a spymaster."

“Mmm, is that all?” She asked quietly, allowing the Nord to continue to speak his mind. 

"I don't know, Relyssa, seems like a lot can go wrong here, but the pay is too good to pass up." Gustav drank some water. "You probably have a plan already, and I take it you know more people here than I do. Also, how do you keep finding this kind of job anyway?"

“I didn’t find it. It found me,” Relyssa admitted — helping herself to the water. “I pretended to be you,” she said frankly, nonchalantly even. “It is concerning that you have been here less than a day and a so-called powerful stranger has found you, and is cornering you into this.” The Breton took a sip, crossing one leg over the other.

“Yes,” Gustav shrugged, “not like there’s much I can do about it.”

“A lot can go wrong, your men could die,” she muttered, thumbing over the journal pages with a raised brow, taking note of everything, but not allowing it to show on her face. “I almost am inclined to believe that our mysterious benefactor is counting on it, actually,” she remarked, suddenly serious as her gaze fell on Gustav once more.

“Or" she began, an excited glint fell into the sparkle of her eyes, "absolutely everything can go in [i]your[/i] favour,” she smirked. “You can’t really want to simply pass up an artifact for pay?” Relyssa leaned back into the sofa and scoffed before smiling in an almost coy manner. “Why play by his rules when you could take [i]everything.[/i]” The suggestion was very genuine, it all made sense in her mind of course — and she let the words hang in the air, watching closely for Gustav’s reaction. Would it scare him? Would he balk at it perhaps? Or find himself on board… 

Truth be told, it did scare Gustav. He wasn’t a warrior or a thief; his expertise was finance, and this job was far beyond his expertise. Relyssa had made her schemes plain, and the previous sugar-induced smile faded from Gustav’s face. “You’ve got to be kidding.” He said.

Gustav’s eyes fell to the shield, it darted to the journal pages, and finally to Relyssa. She was not kidding, and he started thinking aloud. “Well, alright. This artifact probably fetches a better price than the pay, and it’s not like the original employer can send an army against us, because why would he hire us in the first place. That leaves Finch, but he doesn’t seem too smart, or strong.”

“I suppose you are right.” Gustav admitted. He drank more water, as most nervous people tend to do. “You and I both value the lives of our employees, but we have to make sacrifices in the grand scheme of things, yes? Let’s say, hypothetically, Alim changed his mind at the last moment; would you continue the mission without him?”

“We are trying to outwit one of the most powerful people in Wayrest, from just a room away.” Gustav waited for Relyssa’s reply, trying to see if she was as committed as she sounded.

That made her smile, she turned her cheek to Gustav, suppressing a laugh. “Gustav, you have made your first grievous error in underestimating Mr Finch. He is street smart, and street strong. He will not let this mission fall to failure. He will not let us double cross him.” Her eyes flashed devilishly, as she ran her hand across her leg. “You have to view our situation as if he is the smartest man in the room, to make it entirely waterproof.” Relyssa sighed, taking a sip from the glass again.

“Huh,” Gustav snorted, “more trouble than he appears.”

“It is inconsequential to me, whether Alim changes his mind at any moment. He does not even need to be there…” She sighed again, her brow furrowing as she concentrated on her words, lowering her voice even. “Nobody else can know what you and I have discussed. It is up to us to pull the rug out from all of them, Alim, the Dunmer and Imperial siblings included. If any of them are in on this, they will jeopardise it, and someone could die.”

“Of course.” Gustav concurred. He shifted uncomfortably on the sofa. “Any one of us leaking this secret will spell doom for both.”

I know I’m asking you to put a certain level of… trust in me.” The Breton added. “It may almost feel like I’m handing you the rope with which to hang yourself…” she chuckled at the notion. “But let me tell you something about the gentleman next door; he is very indulgent, and he is hardly powerful in his nocturnal activities… [i]If you know what I mean.[/i]" The glass was brought to her lips, a mischief prickled across her cheeks in a blush as she recalled the [i]sounds[/i] she had been forced to tolerate. "It would not take a distinguished mercenary to catch him off guard...”

“Good to know.” Gustav said nonchalantly. He looked away from Relyssa as she spoke. “We did trust each other at Evermore, didn’t we? It worked in the end, though I hope there won’t be a bounty this time.”

“Remember, Relyssa, I came to this city for the Ring of Potema, and you said you can help.” Gustav reminded her. He was a bit impatient and worried, but he was buying into Relyssa’s schemes. “If you think we can retrieve this sword without unnecessarily complications, then I’m in. You make the plan and tell me who you need, and where you need them.”

“And I will keep my promise to you on that, Gustav. Let’s just say I know a gentleman who could… Temporarily slip into your employ, who you may indeed find some use for in regards to… Obtaining an item,” Relyssa said, smoothing out the rising frustration in Gustav’s voice - hopefully, ignoring the comment about a bounty. 

“We shall see.” Stated Gustav. “I cannot say no to extra help at this moment.”

“I can do this,” the Breton said, much of the manipulative look draining from her face. “Your mercenaries need a win… Their morale is low after Evermore. You need to be the boss now, but you also need to give them this victory.” She had leaned forwards in her seat, drawing closer to the Nord with severity in her eyes, a hand on each leg. “And as the boss of your company, it’s your decision to make. Sleep on it. Maybe you’ll come up with a plan all of your own, but heed my warning, Gustav,” she said, pausing to raise a finger into the air between them. “This gentleman [i]desires[/i] this artifact more than anything, and desire is as dangerous an emotion as anything, especially when it was forged alongside revenge.” It was as if the woman was speaking directly from her experience, the depth of her tone was endless. “I don’t believe he should lay a hand on it, lest he smite every one of your mercenaries, Mr Finch included, as his reward -- as his guarantee of silence on the whole matter.”

Gustav looked back to Relyssa when she spoke, and the next thing he knew, he was staring at her, and unconsciously leaning to her direction. Gustav cursed himself silently. “You’re doing that again.” He grumbled. 

With an overly feminine chuckle, Relyssa moved back, and out of his space, pleased with herself for the grating effect she’d had on the man. “My apologies…” She tossed her silver hair over her shoulder, instead leaning against the back of the sofa, her eyes staring right at Gustav.

“I am the boss of the company, and I-” Gustav stopped himself abruptly. He was getting worked up, and it’s probably what Relyssa wanted to see. She and her little game, Gustav tightened his jaw, and then forced himself to relax it; he would love to play it, if he weren’t always a step behind. 

“Of course. Yes, you are the boss…” She repeated back at him with a slow nod.

“Look, this job is not what I’m expecting in Wayrest, and quite frankly, I’m not exactly the expert here.” Gustav decided he would be honest rather than going in circles. “But I see your point, it is better we get the upper hand on our employer, than playing pawns and leaving our fate to his whims. Very well, we will claim the sword as our own. You have certainly given me a lot to sleep on.”

“And this acquaintance of yours.” Gustav rested his arms on the tea table. He looked straight ahead, avoiding Relyssa’s alluring gestures and trying to not lose his wits. “How would he ‘temporarily slip into my employ’?”

The pride that she felt, over making him squirm so was incredibly delicious. It was as intoxicating a high as she could find in the place, and she’d felt a sense of her own power return to her after her earlier whimper of weakness. Whether she’d stick to the plan, she did not yet know, she only knew she enjoyed Gustav being on her hook -- she was one step closer to unravelling him. “Have your… What’s her name now… Ah,” she stopped, pointing her finger again, “have Miss Fontaine, or perhaps Miss Venim seek out the Peacock, tell him Relyssa requests a favour from him. He’ll do as he’s told.” 

Deliberately cryptic, she wanted that to slither under his skin too. 

“He’ll provide useful to you in a way that I don’t think anyone in your employ currently could be.” The Breton smiled again, relaxing into the sofa before she took a glance down at the tea table. “Mmmm,” she murmured out. “How time has gotten away with us,” she lamented. “You should get some sleep Gustav, it can’t have been easy working your way up here from below… And we have to make preparations in the morning.” 

“Peacock? What a ridiculous moniker.” Gustav shook his head. He only looked over his shoulder to Relyssa now. “I shall have Miss Fontaine inquire about his services, for she has a task to test this Peacock’s worth.”

In the end, Gustav was determined to not let Relyssa get a rise out of him. Well, not too much of a rise out of him. He had to say something to even the odds. “Well, Relyssa, you do seem to enjoy our little chat as you enjoy the fineries of your suite.” Gustav leaned back and put on a cryptic smile to match hers. “It was quite refreshing to take in sights of the city, especially in less traveled areas. It would do you some good too, to get some fresh air outside, instead of cooped up in this brothel all evening.”

When it’s all said and done, Gustav was actually getting tired. He was stifling back yawns at this point. “I shall see you in the morning. While I would wish you good rest, we both know there’s too much on our minds for such.”

Relyssa gave him a polite smile, though his comment did rub her the wrong way — the implications of his words especially. They’d both been left with food for thought, and with desire to digest alone, Relyssa rose from her seat, glancing down at Gustav once more. “Well, goodnight then Gustav. I’ll be seeing you come morning…” 

She left, walking as proud as she always did - her mind buzzing with the opportunities to come.